As detailed further below, many people find woodlands intimidating, and need clearly marked paths to follow, together with maps at car-parks, leaflets and other information to feel confident to walk in woodland. Because of their size and uniformity, conifer plantations can be especially confusing.
People are often rather conservative in their use of local woodlands, tending to walk the same routes that they know, often ones that they learnt from their parents or friends, rather than exploring areas which are new to them. Horse riders often have the best knowledge of routes, along with mountain bikers, joggers, naturalists and others who visit woodlands with a particular purpose in mind. Where the aim of management is to encourage recreational use, effort needs to be put into signing and other information.
Rights of way
Rights of way must by law be signposted at junctions with metalled roads. Signposts must indicate whether the path is a byway, bridleway or footpath. Information on distance and destination is often included, but is not required by law. The local authority must also place signs or waymarks at points along a right of way where the authority considers that a person unfamiliar with the locality would need a sign to find the correct route.
Any waymarking of public rights of way should be done in consultation with the local authority and with the landowner. The recommended colours for arrows are:
Footpath
yellow (BS 08 E 51)
Bridleway
blue (BS 20 E 51)
Byway
brick red (BS 06 E 55)
Arrows can be painted directly onto objects, or plastic, metal or resin arrows can be attached to objects. Most authorities have their own supplies of arrows or waymarkers which can be made available to approved voluntary groups. Arrows are aligned in the same way as road signs, and should normally be placed on vertical surfaces as shown:
In farmland, arrows are normally placed on stiles, gates, walls and other objects at boundaries. In woodlands, such objects are usually absent. Painted or attached arrows are not very successful on tree trunks, because surfaces may be rough or liable to get obscured by foliage, and arrows may not be easy for the walker to spot. It is difficult to make arrows obvious, without making them unsightly. Separate waymarking posts, with arrows on them, are one answer, but involve extra cost and the increased likelihood of vandalism. Junctions of several paths can be very confusing to sign on vertical posts, as shown. It may be clearer to use finger posts, or to attach the arrows on a horizontal surface as shown.
Other routes
Routes to encourage use of woodland areas are normally circular routes, marked by markers on the ground, with an accompanying information board and/or leaflets.
The first priority is that routes must be along paths which are clear and pleasant to walk, or they are unlikely to be used. At the start of the route, there must be a board, finger post or some other sign which gives distance, type of marker to follow and destination as appropriate.
As with waymarking arrows, there is a problem in making markers obvious, robust, but not obtrusive. Markers attached to trees need to be brightly coloured to show up. Attach at a consistent height, just out of reach to avoid vandalism, and use copper nails to reduce damage to the tree. Alternatively, use sturdy posts, cut locally from the woodland, and paint on or attach a marker.
Decide whether the route is going to be marked from both directions, or if a circular route from the entrance point, from one way only. Non-directional marks, such as blobs or bands of colour, only confirm the route and give no idea of direction. Where there is likely to be confusion, for example at junctions, consecutive marks need to be in view of each other.
Numbers or letters which refer to a leaflet may also need arrows nearby to direct to the next marker.
Before making any firm decision on types of marker, their positioning and accompanying leaflets or boards, do a few trial runs with some people who are unfamiliar with the area. When you know an area well it is difficult to put yourself in the position of someone who doesn’t. Fix up temporary markers, use a draft leaflet or board as required, and observe what happens. From this you can fine-tune the positioning of arrows, where additional markers are needed, and clear up any ambiguities in the information given.
Routes for cyclists and horse riders should be clearly marked by appropriate signs which can be read without stopping or dismounting.
Information
On supervised or frequently wardened sites, leaflets or route cards can be made available at the visitor centre or car-park, with an honesty box as appropriate. Alternatively, a nearby shop or pub may be willing to stock leaflets.
Decide on the type of information required. Choose from:
- Basic information which enables a walker to find and follow the route.
- Nature trail information, linked to markers along the route.
- Details of woodland wildlife, management, local history and so on, not necessarily linked to the route, and normally better read before or after a walk.
- Information aimed at a particular audience, for example children, bird-watchers and so on.
Basic information which is designed to be read as you walk is best kept as simple as possible. It can be distracting to have to keep unfolding a leaflet. An A5 card with the basic details needed to find your way may be all that is needed, and also leaves you more time to look around and observe for yourself. Alternatively, put the map on the back of a descriptive leaflet, with details inside to be read before or after the walk as desired. Two or more routes can be shown on the same map, to give a selection of routes for different users. However, don’t make it complicated or it will become confusing. Concentrate on getting one or two routes in use and regularly walked. The basic map should show:
- The car-park or start point, and the route of the path.
- Average time taken to walk the route.
- Scale and orientation.
- The colour and type of waymarkers, if any.
- Unmistakable features which a walker will find along the path. If there is a lack of such features, then it may be necessary to create them. Logs, boulders, a stone cairn, wooden bollards, sculptures, specimen trees of suitable species or other features may be appropriate.
Leaflets for cycle routes should include similar basic information required to find the start of the route and to follow it. Few cyclists will want to stop in order to read a descriptive leaflet.
Information boards
An information board at a car-park or start of a woodland walk should include:
- A map showing the wood, including its location in relation to the surrounding area. People feel more secure in exploring a woodland if they know how it links with other places that they know.
- Scale and orientation.
- Rights of way and other access routes.
- Who owns and/or manages the wood.
- The location of the nearest phone in case of emergency.
- Information on wildlife, local history and so on as appropriate.
A signboard with the name and ownership of the wood is important in giving the woodland an identity and to encourage use. Responsible visitors will not venture into a woodland if they are not sure of their right to be there. A signboard should be robust and attractive, as its appearance will convey a message about the management of the site. Most organisations involved with owning and managing woodland have their own standard signs.
Various companies specialise in producing information boards for countryside recreation sites, and there are a large number of sign making companies in all areas. Alternatively, you can make your own signboard, with the name of the woodland in painted or routered lettering. Maps and other information can be produced cheaply on paper and encapsulated, and replaced at intervals as necessary. Signs are normally best erected out of direct sunlight, in order to reduce fading. The signboard should be easily visible from the road, and positioned where people reading it are out of the way of traffic turning in. Check with the local authority regarding planning permission.
A robust structure can be built of local oak or sweet chestnut, if possible sourced from the woodland itself, prepared using green woodworking techniques. Use mortise and tenon joints for the roof support, braces and rails. Roof with shingles, split from a straight butt of oak or chestnut. Purchased plywood will be needed for the information board.
